Staff Reports
Commissioners held their first Budget Workshop for the 2023 fiscal year this week following a brief regular meeting.
During the regular meeting, Commissioners approved moving $5,112 from the Maintenance Capital outlay budget to the Extra Help and Benefits JP1 budget in order to being training a new assistant prior to a change in positions in January 2023.
The Court also accepted monthly department reports, approved a bond for Harleigh Fulgium for Deputy District Clerk, the payment of bills and payroll for June.
Commissioners received the first draft of the 2023 budget and are scheduled to come back and begin discussions on July 18.
According to the summary sheet provided, there are a few changes from the 2022 budget. Those include:
• the way ad valorem taxes are budget: This request was made by the outside auditor. “He wants to tax calculation (rate x value) to equal the budget and it did not. County Auditor Shanna Solomon “increased the general fund and transferred the money to road and bridge to make the budget income the same.”
• The General Fund deficit currently, before any additions is $74,671, which includes $40,000 for one sheriff vehicle and all benefits changes.
• Most of the budget requests are for salary increases due to cost of living raises.
• Health insurance rates increased by about $26,400.
• TCDRS retirement rates decreased
The only discussion held was on health insurance. Currently the County added a $1,000 reimbursement of deductible per employee after they had met the $3,000 deductible requirement. Marion County Treasurer said only a few individuals had requested the reimbursement.
Commissioner Charlie Treadwell suggested increasing the deductible to $4,000 and increasing the reimbursement to $2,000, and possibly adding reimbursement for one co-pay. Co-pay rates for employees increased from $25/$35 to $45/$55 after the County increased the deductible to $3,000.
Other requested increases to the County Budget totaled $181,301.20. There were also additional requests to increase the Veteran Service Officer salary to $11,000 (change of $3,380) and associated benefits increase of $678.
Other fund allocation requests include:
• $3,000 for a building to house the mower at the airport
• $150,000 for the County Clerk’s Record Preservation Project which is funded through filing fees
• $4,000 for a printer for the Treasurer
• $1,800 for a video magistrate system for Pct 2 JP
The largest salary increase request was for the Sheriff. The increase requested was for $8,873.15 or 22%. Constable Pct 2 requested $2,953 salary increase or 13%. Constable Pct 1 requested a $3,500 salary increase or 10%. All other salary increase requests were 5%.